Read a full match preview of the Euro 2012 Group A game between Poland and
Greece at the National Stadium, Warsaw on Friday June 8 2012, kick-off 17:00
BST.

The striking design of the National Stadium in Warsaw, host to Friday evening’s opening salvos of Euro 2012, somewhat unnervingly invokes the image of a crown of thorns.

No doubt its architects visualised regal majesty as they oversaw its £400 million construction dominating the landscape on the eastern bank of the Vistula River.

Equally, this strange, prickly structure – ready for the Euro 2012 tournament kick-off between Poland and Greece – could be perceived as oppressive.

It is not entirely clear if the intention is to leave you beguiled or unsettled by the menace of the bristly needles rising from the arena’s retractable roof.

Poland will hope it is the Greeks who will feel most ill at ease in barbed surroundings, but it is the hosts – preparing for their first competitive fixture in this new stadium – who must make it feel like home.

As ever when the Uefa or Fifa bandwagon rolls into a town, a nation and a corporation of lucrative sponsors expects.

The vibrancy of a major tournament is nourished by the host’s patriotic performances and if Poland and Ukraine excel, the flags will wave and car horns shriek for a month.

“The atmosphere is improving every day,” said Poland manager Franciszek Smuda. “We see the support on the streets, the people waving at us as we go past. We hope this remains until the very end so we can be proud as Poles we’ve created beautiful stadiums and a good atmosphere. We have created a national team with great respect for its duties. There are no scandals in this team. We are very professional.”

Captain Jakub Blaszczykowski is one of several Bundesliga stars whose influence somewhat comically led the Uefa interpreter at last night’s opening press conference to announce Poland are considered ‘black horses’ (presumably they meant ‘dark’) for the tournament.

“Such supportive words are appreciated but we are at the moment where we must prove our value,” said Blaszcyykowski.

“Until then there is optimism but we must justify it. These are the most important matches in our lives and we are ready. Entering the stadium to train I felt the excitement. We will be fully motivated and try to fulfil our dreams.

“Sometimes it’s a great burden when the whole country has such great expectation. We are aware of it but this will motivate us. A player waits for an entire career to play in a tournament in front of their own fans. Now we hope to realise our dream and make them last.”

Arsenal’s Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has set the grand target of winning the competition, despite the lowest ranking (62) in the competition.

“I’m only in it to win it. I don’t plan to lose any games, so therefore I want to win the championship. Why not?” he said.

“The fans are behind us and they expect us to do well. There is a lot of pressure but we are growing in confidence. So there is big excitement as well as big pressure. And that’s good for me because I enjoy it.

“We are playing a Euros in our own country and we should enjoy it. Playing for your national team is the best feeling in the world. And playing at Euros at home doesn’t get any better.”

For Poland to succeed, they will need their 23-year-old striker Robert Lewandowski to challenge for the golden boot.

Lewandowski’s 22 goals secured a successive Bundesliga title for Borussia Dortmund. Plenty believe it was him, not Dortmund team-mate Shinji Kagawa, whose signature Manchester United should have pursued most vigorously.

His finishing prowess will be needed against the traditionally defensive Greeks.

“They are perfect in defence,” said Smuda.

Greece's Portuguese manager Fernando Santos was not overly impressed by the description.

“If we were only good at defence we would not be here,” he responded.

But the Greeks know how to wreck a party. Eight years ago Otto Rehhegal’s side beat hosts Portugal 2-1 in the opening game and also defeated them, 1-0, in the final.

“It’s a difficult game, as it was the case eight years ago, so we hope it will end the same way,” said captain Giorgos Karagounis.

If they repeat the trick on the opening night, Poland’s mood may turn as spiky as the design of their national stadium.